Thursday July 2, 2020
NAIROBI (HOL) - The Gambia will not be championing for Somaliland’s international recognition, the country’s Foreign Affairs Minister has said as China rubbishes a diplomatic deal announced by Taiwan and Somaliland.
According to The Gambian newspaper Freedom Newspaper, Foreign Affairs Minister Momodou Tangara told off MPs seeking the government’s position on Somaliland.
“Foreign Minister Tangara warned that it would be irresponsible for The Gambian government to engage in such illegitimate diplomacy,” the newspaper reported.
The Gambia officially recognized Taiwan in 1996 but former President Yahya Jammeh announced an end to the status in 2013.
The debate on Somaliland’s recognition comes amid a new deal with Taiwan. The two announced July 1 a partnership that would see the opening of ‘representative offices’ in each other’s territories.
But China hit back on the same day dismissing the deal as an attempt to ‘separate its territory.’
“We will never allow anyone, any organization or any political party to separate any piece of territory from China at any time or in any form. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China,” Chinese embassy in Mogadishu said.
Somaliland President Muse Bihi received a ‘state reception’ last year during a visit to Guinea in West Africa raising debate on the region’s increasing diplomatic efforts to seek international recognition.